Damn Fine AD
Purveyor of Damn Fine Art Direction, et al.
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Ringo Starr and David Bowie
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Source: Vogue Paris; September 2011
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Fabiano -
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If Feist and Sam Beam from Iron & Wine had a love child, Elle King might be it. 
Sorry in advance for linking you off to MySpace (yes - it’s actually STILL alive and well in 2012 - weird, right?) - but folks, I’m smitten - and you will be, too. A Brooklyn beauty with a nostalgia for her midwestern roots… Her voice takes my memory on a tour of what I love so much about Billie Holiday, Cat Power, Feist, and wait for it…. Ani DiFranco. Yes, Ani. A little sweet and luscious, the tiniest bit of rasp when she trails off, a guitar and a banjo…
Type Boner of the Day Award award goooess toooo…. That Obscure Object of Desire, a 1977 film directed by Luis Buñuel.
Showcasing a truly all-star cast of 17 artists (some returning, some new faces), including: Cameron Gray, Chloe Early, Damon Soule, Dave Kinsey, David Ellis, Evan Hecox, Evelyn Rydz, Greg Lamarche, Herbert Baglione, Oliver Vernon, Pema Rinzin, Ryan McLennan, Shawn Barber, Stephen Powers, Tiffany Bozic, Tomokazu Matsuyama and Tony Curanaj.
See you at the reception, Thursday August 4th from 6-9pm.
Git git git GIT IT GIRRRRRL.
No doubt many of you still remember the mixtapes the Megasoid duo dropped back in 2008 and 2009 - Tank Thong and the Runners Mixtape, among others. Bangin’ beats that had your bootieass shakin’ whether you wanted it to or not… If, by chance, you haven’t heard these, the effect is the same now as it ever was. Go scour them internets and grab them bitches!
After a crushing robbery where most of his equipment was lifted - Robert Squire - 1/2 of the Megasoid duo has finally resurfaced, musically - and thank god he can’t stay away from music. The producer’s most recent sonic mutation Système Hermes is a rung in the ladder of Squire finding his new sound, and he boasts it won’t stop evolving with this release.
Castlepalooza happens in 5 days
GAD!! The lil sis & I tossed around the idea of doing Castlepalooza in Ireland this year, but alas, couldnt make the dates work. Over the past few months, I keep stumbling across new great bands & musicians, and they all seem to be gearing up for the festival… Ahhh there’s always next year, I suppose.
For now, let’s wax anticipation about two particularly great acts in store for festival goers:
The band We Are Losers, hailing from Dublin, Ireland, combine ambient environmental sounds with an echoing hypnotic reverb reminiscent of a more instrumental Echo & the Bunnymen, and to an extent, The Flaming Lips, though perhaps less epically conceived and more zoned-out play-whatchya-feel. In a word, experimental. Give them a listen on bandcamp, and grab some free songs while you’re at it: http://growuptobelosers.bandcamp.com/
MOTHS. God I am talking full-on lose your shit & melt into a puddle of blissed-out shoegaze goo. If you haven’t heard them yet, where on earth have you been? Hop on over to their soundcloud and give a listen to their tracks, remixes & samplers. They have yet to release a full album, but I can guarandamntee ya they’ve already convinced me to gladly fork over the $10-15 for it when they finally do. Some favorites are <3, Summer, and Jimmy Francis. Find them all here: http://soundcloud.com/mmoths
Go see some musics in a friggin CASTLE, ya’ll.
New goodness from Shlohmo, a 21yr old producer from LA, just dropped about 40 minutes ago via Soundcloud. He works his magic on a Drake track, transforming it from humdrum hiphop into a deep ambient dub tour de force that borrows a few cues from Burial, albeit a bit more slowed down and chilled out.
To wit, he has a knack for taking played-out pop and turning it into something altogether different - crafting layers on layers of body and character - something with more soul that even a pop grumbler like myself can appreciate. To Shlohmo’s credit, he’s right when he makes the point that you should “try and appreciate shit even if u have to forget the context sometimes. ” — We Did It Collective
Props in a major way. Expecting more great things from Shlohmo. When he hits his prime, he is going to be motherfucking unstoppable. I’m not sure he’s quite there yet, but he is most certainly well on his way.
78,129 Plays
Gold Panda - MBP
Wanna know what anticipation sounds like? Check this new track from Gold Panda, just out today (just in time for DFAD’s birthday, no less!), and you’ll see. It’s like the nibble on the ear before things get RILL dirty - when you know with a fair degree of certainty, that what comes next is gonna be HOT.
I feel like Gold Panda’s sound matures with every release. In the span of the past year, I’ve gone from slightly interested, but feeling kinda ‘eh about his music, to an unabashed GP zealot who can’t wait for my next fix.
xx
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Vacationer - Trip
Damn what a great track… just wish it a) didnt end so abruptly, and b) was 2 or 3 minutes longer. DO. WANT. MORE of this downtempo, chillwave ish - they’re calling it “nu hula”. <3 <3 <3
145,535 Plays
Niva - Ghost In My Head
Currently listening to Swedish dreampop producer Niva’s newly released album Feverish Dreams. You can enjoy it here on Soundcloud, fooools, or head on over to BandCamp and show the man a little financial support. Don’t get thrown off by the price - it’s listed in SEK (Swedish Kronor). It comes out to about $9 and it’s been worth every penny to have on the go.
19,523 Plays
The other 3-word athletic shoe tagline.
BlackbirdBlackbird - Euphoria
Dig this new goodness from chillwave producer Blackbird Blackbird out on XLR8R today. Looking forward to the new Erasers LP, due to drop late this summer (via Brooklyn’s Old Flame label). It can’t come quickly enough. MOARRRR MOAAARRRRR!!!
If BlackbirdBlackbird is new to you, head on over to check out the albums up for grabs on Bandcamp. They’re dirt cheap and the sonic treat is worth every last cent.
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“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
Ira Glass (via nprfreshair, nefffy and Miss Jill Ong)
(via pocketmonsterd)
Braids - Lemonade
It’s not that they wanted to state the obvious, but sometimes little mantras like:
“What I’ve found is that we/ We’re all just sleeping around.”
Can be powerful defense mechanisms for even the most fortified of egos. They’re not tweens. This is not Braids coming to some kind of self discovery or enlightening realization - they’re holding a mirror up and reminding us all - themselves in particular - to keep our collective shit in check. Can’t get hurt if you keep it real, right?
These lyrics from Lemonade have gotten the most attention in the blogosphere for stating the obvious while people pass it off as profundity, but I feel that it’s neither their best nor most representative tune from the record. Lammicken is a personal fave, however.
Some have referenced Cocteau Twins and Animal Collective as obvious influences. Sure, I get that. Okay. I say, if you haven’t listened to Braids before - go into it expecting a kind of melding-together of Mazzy Star vocals backed by Boards of Canada / Album Leaf - like dreamy sequences.
All in all, good stuff. Go Canucks! Looking forward to hearing their audial progression. If you wanna read more, might I suggest this post on Tiny Mix Tapes.
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Happy to have just discovered Sun Glitters - an electronica / chillwave / dubstep artist who was apparently put on this planet to make sure we all recognize Luxembourg is indeed still very much a country, and exporting some high calibre talent.
I dont think I’ve been so in love with sounds like this since Burial unleashed his progeny into the world. Really good stuff. If you want a real deal, go check his music out on bandcamp - you can snatch full albums for $5. (heh heh, I said snatch) #yesiam12
